Does the UK have sandy beaches?

The UK coastline is packed full of beautiful sandy beaches perfect for paddling in the sea, going surfing, sunbathing, discovering rockpools, or building sandcastles.



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England's Beaches Are Surprisingly Beautiful (In the Right Weather) England is blessed with thousands of miles of coastline and hundreds of beaches.

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18 Best Beaches in the U.K.
  • Holkham Beach, Norfolk, England.
  • Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland.
  • Whitepark Bay, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
  • Kynance Cove, Cornwall, England.
  • Scarista Beach, Lewis and Harris, Scotland.
  • Compton Bay, Isle of Wight, England.
  • Oxwich Bay Beach, Wales.
  • Pentle Bay, Tresco, Isles of Scilly.


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What's the situation in the UK? Removing any natural material - including sand and pebbles - from public beaches in the UK is illegal under the Coastal Protection Act 1949. It up to local councils to enforce the law, and offenders can be fined up to £1,000.

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St Mary's bay in Kent often tops the list of the most polluted beach in England. At the start of 2023, there were concerns the beach may have to shut for the whole year, due to high levels of faecal matter. Communities around polluted beaches are coming together to call for action on sewage pollution.

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Sandwood Bay, Highlands Sandwood Bay is a beautiful, remote beach situated at the end of a 4-mile walk, making it possibly one of the quietest beaches in the UK. With a 1-mile stretch of pink sand, and dunes and rocky cliffs to add drama to the scene, Sandwood never feels busy and offers a tranquil haven.

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Overnight camping No overnight sleeping or camping is allowed on the beach, seafront, cliffs or car parks. Camping in any unauthorised space is dangerous. Be prepared to be disturbed as a 24-hour beach patrol will be repeatedly visiting to gather evidence for prosecution and you could face a £1000 fine.

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